St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-07-23
THE HOMESTEAD LAW.

THE HOMESTEAD LAW.
Every person twenty years Of
age or the head 0f . family, . citi-
zen Of the United States. or one
who has declared his intention Of
becoming . citizen, can claim the
benefit Of this law.
Full citizenship 10 not required
Of the immigrant. to enable him 10
partake Of the benefit Of this Law.
The only thing he must do after his
arrival in America 10 10 declare his
intention Of becoming . citizen.
Everything that 10 raised. aud
all improvements on the land. will
belong to the settler.
The immigrant hae no expense
except some email fees 10 tho Gov
ernmsnt officers, which amount for
l6O acres according to location;
to SIS or $32 in Il. for land worth
81 Is per acre; or $26 or $34 for
land worth e SO per acre.
An immigrant can take leo acres
under tie Homestead Law % .
gift. aud can purchase 160 acres
more. if he % desires. at from 81 Is
to 81 50 per acre. This will give
him 800 acres.
Then. under . law passed. June
IA. 1878, entitled the forest Law.
he can take up l60 acres Tor 40
acres. - be may slsct.) Of land
naturally devoid Of timber. One
sixteenth pact Of the land must be
planted in young forest trees. seeds
or cuttings. and the trees must bs
kept for eight years in good grow
ing condition.
That is, if $50 acres are takeI
under the Forest Law" i've acres
must be plowed the first year. cult
waited the second year. and planted
the third year; and i've acres more
must bs broken the second year,
cultivated the third year aud plant
ed the fourth year.
II 500 ~ acres are taken up,
it is only necessary to plant 5 or n
acres respectively. - above ex-
planned.
After the expiration Of eight
years. or within thirteen years. and
after the planter has proved BY two
witnesses that Ee has complied fully
with the provisions Of the "Forest
Law" the Government gives him Z
patent for the land.
Persons who take up land under
the "Forest Law" need not reside
ON it. aud may at the same time
take mp and possess lands under
the Homestead Law.
The settler can make his choice
from any Of the Govsrnmen. lands'
bus must report his selection to the
United States Land Ofics. when.
after presenting proof that he ha,
complied with the requirements oi
the law. he will receive . patent 70,
the land a. his individual property.
These lands are free from taxes.
and cannot be seized for debts con.
tractsd before the taking up Of the
same.
Should the planter die after bav-
ing made entry. his heirs have the
right to fulfill. in bis place. it, pro-
Visions. and after the expiration Of
eight years to receive the patent
for the land.
There 10 no Government in the
world that has ever passed laws %
wise. 20 liberal 90 bene6ceut They
have proved = boon to Thousands u
poor struggling men. Any indus
trious man, with . small amount Of
means, can avail himself Of their
Provisions. and in . few years b.
come owner Of his own farm.
Tue following 10 what it costs Ia
enter . Homestead:
40 acres. $18.
80 acres, $22.
12O acres. SIS.
16O acres. $50.
This covers ell expenses. Ices.
etc.-S0uih Illustrated.
There are several small items oil
expense not mentioned in the above.
Each additiOoal acre over the
number entered must b paid for
Ut the Government price. For in
stance. Q man enters l6O acres fol
$50; when 6nal proof 10 made it ID
found that be has taken up . few